Golf glove with grip locking means



Oct. 24, 1967 K. HYDQCK '3,34s,23a

GOLF GLOVE WITH GRIP LOCKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOHN K. HYDOCK ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1967 HYDOCK 3,348,238

GOLF GLOVE WITH GRIP LOCKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1966 INVENTOR. JOHN K. HYDOCK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,348,238 GOLF GLOVE WITH GRIP LOCKING MEANS John K. Hyd'ock, RD. 1, Byesville, Ohio 43723 Filed Oct. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 590,383 8 Claims. (Cl. 2-161) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf glove with grip locking means comprising at least two coactin-g strips of flexible material, one of which is permanently attached to the glove along a line substantially coincident with and parallel with the outermost edge of the thumb of the glove and extends diagonally across the palm of the glove, and the other of which is attached to the back of the glove.

This invention relates generally to golf gloves, but has reference more particularly to means associated with such gloves for aiding in the gripping of the golf club with the gloved hand.

Gloves which are worn by golfers to facilitate gripping of the shaft of the club are not effective to compel the wearer to retain a firm grip on the handle or shaft, and invariably, at the top of the backswing, there is a tendency for the gloved fingers to loosen or become displaced slightly from the shaft, with the result that a poor or improper stroke is effected.

The present invention has, as its primary object, the provision of means associated with a golf glove which is effective to lock certain fingers of the gloved hand to the handle or shaft, whereby there is no possibility for the fingers to move relatively to the handle or shaft at any time during the backswing or downswing of the club, and whereby insurance is had that the club will be properly swung in relation to the ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide grip locking means of the character described, which, while looking certain fingers of the gloved hand to the handle or shaft, permits the club to be rotated in the gloved hand to an extent suflicient to properly align or adjust the head of the club, in the event that the alignment is not proper after the fingers have been locked to the handle or shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide grip locking means of the character described, in which use is made in a unique and advantageous manner, of Velcro nylon hook tape and Velcro nylon pile tape, of the type described, for example, in the DeMestral Patent No. 3,114,951.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a front view of a golf glove embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the glove;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing the manner in which the glove is used;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but of the modification;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing how the modified form of glove is used, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive hesive, to the of the drawings, there is disclosed a more or less conventional golfers glove, usually made of leather, and comprising a front piece or palm section 1, and a back piece or section 2, which are secured together in any desired manner to provide the finger-receiving pockets or finger stalls 3, 4, 5 and 6, the pocket or stall 3 for the small finger of the left hand, the pocket or stall 4 for the finger adjacent the small finger, the pocket or stall 5 for the middle finger, and the pocket or stall 6 for the index finger.

The glove additionally comprises thumb sections 7 and 8, which are secured to the front and back sections of the glove and to each other to form a pocket or stall for receiving the thumb.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a length of Velcro nylon hook tape 9, having an end 10 which is cut on the bias, and is sewn or adhesively secured to the glove at the junction between the upper outer edges of the thumb sections 7 and 8. This length of Velcro hook tape extends diagonally downward across the palm of the glove and to a point approximately midway of the length of the finger-receiving pockets or stalls 3 and 4.

The tape 9 is provided on that face thereof which faces the palm of the glove with spaced hooks or tentacles 11 (FIG. 4), the nature of which is described in the aforesaid Patent No. 3,114,951, and the function of which will be presently described. For the purposes of this invention, the tape 9 is preferably about 5 inches in length and approximately 2 inches wide, although these dimensions may vary to some degree.

Secured, as by stitching, or by means of a suitable adbacks of the finger-receiving pockets or stalls 3, 4 and 5, are strips 12, 13 and 14 of Velcro nylon pile tape, which are preferably contoured to the shape of these pockets or stalls and preferably extend the full length of these pockets or stalls. These strips 12, 13 and 14 are provided on their outer or exposed surfaces with loops or pile 15 (FIG. 4), the nature of which is described in the aforesaid Patent 3,114,951, and the function of which will be presently described.

In the use of the glove, as worn on the left hand of the golfer, the handle or shaft of the club is gripped by the golfer in a conventional manner, and after being thus gripped, the fingers in the pockets or stalls 3, 4 and 5 are locked or gripped to the handle or shaft by place ment of the tape 9 over the pile or loop surface of the strips 12, 13 and 14, in a manner which causes the hooks or tentacles 11 to become firmly interlocked or engaged with the loops or pile 15, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

By thus interlocking the hooks and pile, the gloved hand becomes, in effect, a part of the handle or shaft of the club, so that there is no possibility for the fingers in the pockets or stalls 3, 4 and 5 to move relatively to the handle or shaft at any time during the backswing or downswing of the club, and assurance is had that the club will be properly swung in relation to the ball.

Although the club is thus tightly gripped, it is still possible for the golfer, by means of his right hand, to rotate the club in the gloved hand to an extent sufiicient to properly align or adjust the head of the club in the event that the alignment is not proper after the fingers of the gloved hand have been locked to the handle or shaft.

If desired, the back of the tape 9 may be covered with leather or other suitable material to match the color of the glove, as well as to facilitate manipulation of the tape. Similarly, the strips 12, 13 and 14 may be made in a color, or dyed to match the color of the glove.

After the golf stroke has been completed, the golfer, with his right hand, grasps and pulls or peels the tape 9 from the strips 12, 13 and 14.

While it is conceivable that under certain circumstances, it is possible to use strips or tapes with pressure sensitive adhesive on the coacting surfaces, for the purposes of this invention, such strips or tapes are impractical, as compared with the Velcro type, since the adhesive can easily adhere to surfaces to which such adherence is not desired, and moreover, it is difficult, in most cases, to pull such strips or tapes either from each other or from such other surfaces.

If desired, the parts of the Velcro fastener may be reversed, that is to say, Velcro pile tape may be used for the part 9, and Velcro hook tape may be used for the parts 12, 13 and 14.

A particular advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the strip 9 is permanently secured or fastened to the glove, so that it cannot become lost or separated frorn the glove. Another distinct advantage resides in the fact that the strip 9 is secured to the glove in such a manner that the user cannot help from wrapping it about the glove in a proper manner, the orientation of the strip 9 and pieces 12, 13 and 14 being such as to virtually prevent improper coaction of these parts.

In FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, a modification of the invention is shown, in which a length of Velcro nylon hook tape 19 is provided, having an end 20 which is sewn or adhesively secured to the glove at the lower left margin of the palm section 1 of the glove (as viewed in FIG. This length of Velcro hook .tape extends diagonally upward across the upper portion of the palm of the glove and to a point considerably beyond the right side of the glove.

The tape 19 is provided on that face thereof which faces the palm of the glove with spaced books or tentacles 21, the nature of which is described in the aforesaid Patent 3,114,951, and the function of which will be presently described. For the purpose of this invention, the tape 19 is preferably about 9 inches in length and approximately l /2 inches wide, although these dimensions may vary to some degree.

Secured, as by stitching, or by means of a suitable adhesive, to the back piece or section 2 of the glove, is a strip 22 of Velcro nylon pile tape, which extends from the low right margin of the section 2 diagonally upward across the section 2 to a point adjacent the lower ends of the finger-receiving pockets or stalls 3 and 4. The ends of this strip 22 may be cut on the bias to better fit the space at the back of the glove.

The strip 22 is provided on its outer or exposed surface with loops or pile 23, the nature of which is described in the aforesaid Patent 3,114,951, and the function of which will be presently described.

In the use of the glove, the glove, as worn on the left hand of the golfer, the handle or shaft of the club is gripped by the golfer in a conventional manner, and after being thus gripped, the fingers in the pockets or stalls 3 and 4 are locked or gripped to the handle or shaft by wrapping the tape 19 about the glove, and cansing the end portion of the tape to overlie the pile or loop surface of the tape, and the hooks or tentacles 21 to become firmly interlocked or engaged with the loops or pile 23, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

By thus interlocking the hooks and pile, the gloved hand becomes, in effect, a part of the handle or shaft of the club, so that there is no possibility of the fingers in the pockets or stalls 3 and 4 to move relatively to the handle or shaft at any time during the backswing or downswing of the club, and assurance is had that the club will be properly swung in relation to the ball.

Here, again, although the club is thus tightly gripped, it is still possible for the golfer, by means of his right hand, to rotate the club in the gloved hand to an extent sufficient to properly align or adjust the head of the club in the event that the alignment is not proper after the fingers of the gloved hand have been locked to the handle or shaft.

If desired, the back of the tape 19 may be covered with leather or other suitable material to match the color of the glove, as well as to facilitate manipulation of the tape. Similarly, the strip 22 may be made in a color, or dyed, to match the color of the glove.

After the golf stroke has been completed, the golfer, with his right hand, grasps and pulls or peels the tape 19 from the strip 22.

If desired, the parts of the Velcro fastener may be reversed, that is to say, Velcro pile tape may be used for the part 19, and Velcro hook tape may be used for the part 22.

Here, again, a particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the strip 19 is permanently fastened or secured to the glove, so that it cannot become lost or separated from the glove. Moreover, the strip 19 is secured to the glove in such a manner that the user cannot help from wrapping it about the glove in a proper manner, the orientation of the strip 19 and the part 22 being such as to virtually prevent improper coaction of these parts.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Although the invention has been described particularly with reference to its use in golf, it is also adapted for use in other sports, particularly where a club or paddle must be gripped, as in squash, paddle ball, tennis, baseball, etc.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a golfers glove or the like, means adapted to compel the wearer to retain a firm grip upon the shaft of a golf club when the hands are gripping the club shaft, said means comprising at least one piece of fastening material attached to the back of the glove, and a strip of flexible material having one end thereof permanently attached to said glove along a line substantially coinciding with the outermost edge of the thumb of the glove and extending diagonally across the palm of the glove, said strip having means adapted to coact with said piece of fastening material when said strip has been wrapped about the glove and its opposite end portion caused to overlie said piece of fastening material.

2. In combination with a golfers glove or the like, means adapted to compel the wearer to retain a firm grip upon the shaft of a golf club when the hands are gripping the club shaft, said means comprising pieces of fastening material attached to the backs of the portions of the glove which receive the small finger, the finger adjacent said small finger, and the middle finger of the wearer of the glove, and a strip of fastening material having one end thereof permanently attached to said glove along a line substantially coincident with the outermost edge of the thumb of the glove and extending diagonally across the palm of the glove, said strip having means adapted to coact with said pieces when said strip has been wrapped about the glove and its opposite end portion caused to overlie said pieces.

3. The combination, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first-named means comprises a piece of fastening material attached to the back of the glove at a position below the fingers of the glove and extending diagonally of the glove in the same direction as said strip.

4. The combination, as recited in claim 1, wherein said piece is of flexible material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape, and said strip is of flexible material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape one of said piece and said strip being of hook tape and the other of said piece and said strip being of pile tape.

5. In combination with a golfers glove or the like having a palm section, a back section, finger stalls and a thumb stall; means adapted to compel the wearer of the glove to retain a firm grip upon the shaft of a golf club when the hands are gripping the club shaft, said means comprising separate pieces of flexible fastening material attached to the back portions of at least some of the finger stalls, and a strip of flexible material having one end thereof permanently attached to said glove adjacent the thumb stall and extending diagonally across the palm section of the glove, said strip having means adapted to coact with said pieces of fastening material when said strip has been wrapped about the glove and its opposite end portion caused to overlie said pieces of fastening material.

6. The combination, as recited in claim 5, wherein said pieces are of flexible material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape, and said strip is a piece of flexible material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape.

7. In combination with a golfers glove or the like having a palm section, a back section, stalls for receiving the small finger, the finger adjacent said small finger, and the middle finger of the wearer of the glove, and a stall for receiving the thumb of the wearer of the glove; means adapted to compel the wearer of the glove to retain a firm grip upon the shaft of a golf club, When the hands are gripping the clubshaft, said means comprising separate relatively narrow strips of inelastic flexible material attached to the back portions of each of said finger stalls, and a relatively wide strip of inelastic flexible material having one end thereof permanently attached to said glove adjacent the thumb stall and extending diagonally across the palm section of the glove, said last-named strip having means adapted to coact with said first-named strips when said last-named strip has been wrapped about the glove and its opposite end portion caused to overlie said first-named strips.

8. The combination, as recited in claim 7, wherein said first-named strips are of flexible inelastic material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape, and said last-named strip is of flexible inelastic material selected from the group consisting of Velcro hook tape and Velcro pile tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,604 6/1937 Hay 22O X 2,751,598 6/1956 Romeo 216l X 2,852,779 9/1958 Roessler 2161 3,105,972 10/1963 Christopher 2-161 3,274,616 9/1966 Russo 2l61 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A GOLFER''S GLOVE OR THE LIKE, MEANS ADAPTED TO COMPEL THE WEARER TO RETAIN A FIRM GRIP UPON THE SHAFT OF A GOLF CLUB WHEN THE HANDS ARE GRIPPING THE CLUB SHAFT, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF FASTENING MATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE GLOVE, AND A STRIP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING ONE END THEREOF PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO SAID GLOVE ALONG A LINE SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH THE OUTERMOST EDGE OF THE THUMB OF THE GLOVER AND EXTENDING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE PALM OF THE GLOVE, SAID STRIP HAVING MEANS ADAPTED TO COACT WTIH SAID PIECE OF FASTENDING MATERIAL WHEN SAID STRIP HAS BEEN WRAPPED ABOUT THE GLOVE AND ITS OPPOSITE END PORTION CAUSED TO OVERLIE SAID PIECE OF FASTENING MATERIAL. 